Head: Head in full face view square-shaped (mandibles excluded), slightly wider than long and inflated on its
anteromedian portion. Posterolateral corners round. Posterior margin flat with weak median emargination. Frontal
lobes separated and elevated forming a deep impression of the posterior clypeal margin. Frontal lobe obscuring the
Bannapone scrobiceps sp. nov (worker) Bannapone mulanae (queen) Xu 2000
Presence of five distinct clypeal conical setae Absence of distinct clypeal conical setae (if present, then
much more reduced)
Frontal lobes distinctly separated Frontal lobes closely approximated
Scape of antenna thin and elbowed distally Scape of antenna thick and not elbowed
Frontal carinae extending to the posterior margin of the
cephalic capsule
Frontal carinae extending by no more than one length of the
antennal socket area.
Metapleural lobes present Metapleural lobes absent
Subpetiolar process well developed and spoon-shaped Subpetiolar process narrow and cuneiform
Small size (3.3mm), HW= 0.64mm Very small size (2.1mm), HW= 0.32mm
BENOIT ET AL. 374 · Zootaxa 3734 (3) © 2013 Magnolia Press
inner lateral side of antennal socket. Clypeus with anterior margin slightly convex, dentate, bearing five distinct
teat-like setae. The middle seta is larger than the two pairs of lateral setae. Anterolateral corner of head, near
mandibular insertion, angular and lacking teeth. Eyes absent. Antennal scrobe well defined and moderately
impressed, reaching almost to the posterior head margin. At about two third of the head length, the antennal scrobe
depression bends at an angle of about 120 degrees. Frontal carina very long, reaching almost to the posterior
margin of head, very well defined and elevated. The distance separating the frontal carinae increases along the
antero-posterior axis of the head. Surface between the frontal carinae distinctively raised and forming a heartshaped
region on the posterior part of the head. Mandible elongate, narrow and sickle-like, bearing 3 teeth on the
masticatory margin. Apical tooth acute and very long, followed by two blunt teeth; with the median tooth less than
1/4 the length of the apical tooth; and the basal tooth less than half length of the median tooth. Irregular striate
sculpture present on mandibles. Palps not visible on examined specimens; if present, then extremely reduced. Palp
formula unknown. Antenna 11-segmented. Scape reaches almost two thirds of the head length. Scape narrows
medially and widens apically, with apical fifth part weakly elbowed. Funiculus incrassate apically but not forming
a distinct club. Apical antennal segment longer than combined length of preceding three segments.